“Around 400 people have been identified who must be evacuated immediately. We must seek to do this and put the arrangements in place as soon as at all possible for medical treatment or they are in grave peril of losing their lives.” said Mr O’Brien.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted on December the 18th set out a road map for peace talks and called on all the parties to allow aid workers unhindered access throughout Syria, particularly in beseiged and hard-to-reach areas.

“False information” – Syrian government

Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afaritold reporters in New York his government was committed to “cooperate fully” on aid delivery but said much of what was said about Madaya is based on “false information.”

He dismissed pictures of starving people as “fabrications.”

“There is no shortage of humanitarian assistance in Madaya,” he added, saying that some aid has been “looted” by armed terrorist groups.